Top of the word pileArea schools set sights on state Spell Bowl titles

November 14, 2008|JIM MEENAN Tribune Staff Writer

They're back for seconds at Purdue University but would prefer not to finish in second place this time. Both New Prairie in Class 2 and John Glenn in Class 3 took second in the state last year in the Hoosier Spell Bowl competition. This year both teams certainly know what to expect and would love to improve that placing by just one notch. In regionals at different sites, John Glenn outscored North Posey, which took the Class 3 title last year, by 2 points. "I know they will be ready for us," said Paul Hernandez, coach of John Glenn. "We can count on them being a challenge. They have been one of the perennial contenders the last 15 years." Representing John Glenn will be Erika Groves, Kate Jenkins, Amanda Malone, Amy Shirk, Kelsey Piotrowicz, Patricia Weiss, Chloe Jacobson, Jessica Verkler, Rachel Simms and Adrienne Erickson. Having won state 12 times, though, John Glenn has a pretty good idea of what it takes to win. Knowing how to spell the words from the 3,200-word list is important, noted Hernandez, but it takes more than that at state, when students are given their nine words. "The second part is mental toughness and concentration," said Hernandez. "Down at state, you have all that pressure and if you miss a word and don't block it out, you will miss two or three in a row." New Prairie is a senior-dominated team that has been working hard since regionals, said coach Jim Groendyke. "They are really dedicated," he said. "We are hopeful for a good finish on Saturday." Groendyke's team tied with Gibson Southern with 76 words spelled correctly out of the 90 during the regional at different sites. "I tell them to relax, have a good time and just to concentrate and enjoy the moment," Groendyke said of his team. "We have done all the preparation we can do pretty much." New Prairie is led by Kourtney Keck, Jill Fischer and Chelsea Arthur, who each spelled all nine words correctly at the John Glenn High School Regional, and Anna Hutcheson and Blake Lawson, who each missed but one. Others vying for spots in the starting lineup of 10 include Aimee Lowe, Jennifer Wilhelm, Elizabeth Forsythe, Zach Myers, Ethan Seale, Brianna Davis, Mark Cichos and Cris Shumate. Over the last three years, New Prairie has taken first, third and second at state. Before that, New Prairie had never gone to state in spell bowl. "The first year, there was no pressure," Groendyke said. "Now that we have been there, each year you want to win more." Also in the state finals are Penn and Mishawaka in Class 1. Penn, which had the best qualifying score in the state with an 87, is seeking to regain its state title, which it lost by one point last year to longtime rival Martinsville. In Junior Spell Bowl, teams that qualified in Class 1 are Schmucker Middle School, Mishawaka; Discovery Middle School, Granger; and Lincoln Junior High in Plymouth. All three qualified for state last year, as well, with Schmucker and Discovery tying for second. Knox Community Middle School, the defending state champion, qualified in Class 2. Harold Urey Middle School in Walkerton, last year's runner-up, qualified in Class 3. The senior high school competition begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at Purdue University. Junior Spell Bowl begins at 3 p.m.Staff writer Jim Meenan: jmeenan@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6342